Construction of high-tech cosmodrome in the Far East is nearing completion, but it will take off with no new spaceships, and the good old “Union”. We found that inhibits the development of space industry and talked with experts about the future of space exploration
The construction of the cosmodrome “East” in the Far East is nearing completion, reported in its Facebook Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Rogozin. Baikonur, which is being built near the village of Uglegorsk in the Amur region, should, in accordance with plans to become a completely new high-tech platform, which will allow our planet to communicate with the cosmos, as well as conduct research and testing on the ground. On the backlog of work reported more than once today for completion is shifted by a few months.
The first launch of the carrier rocket, on a plan, to be held in 2015? – If you have time to finish everything, because to pass the object in time Vladimir Putin promised in 2007. A 2018 plan to launch the first manned spacecraft. It is interesting that this ship will be no new modern apparatus, under which built a new playground, and designed in the 60-ies “Soyuz” – and to this day such devices deliver astronauts to the ISS.
Case that the use of the “Union”, which was designed with the participation of the founder of Soviet cosmonautics Sergei Korolev, at odds with the plans that were announced in 2007, when the decision on the construction of the cosmodrome “East”. Then the head of Roskosmos Anatoly Perminov explained the meaning of the idea of building a new cosmodrome “When we begin to build new spaceships, we need a new launch vehicle for them, and then raise the question of building a new launching pad.” In this context, the idea submitted to Vladimir Putin, and then allocated the first 24.7 billion rubles. “East” will be the first national spaceport civil use and will serve the new manned transport system and interplanetary complexes “- then said the president.
In order to avoid the traditional Russian” delays “in the decree had been prescribed a clear time frame: in 2015 from the Baikonur should start first rocket with the satellite, and in 2018 will take place the first manned flight.
Installation of the vapor ring spaceport “East”. Photo: Vladimir Smirnov / TASS
Today, building on the “East” goes the clock, but behind schedule is a few months. The launch seems to have moved to the next year.
In the Russian Space Agency has no choice than to fly in 2018 – there is only the “Soyuz-2″. New manned transport ship (PTC) had to build back to 2014, but in the end it will be no earlier than 2021. A first start with PTC astronaut scheduled for 2024. Then when all the same start using boosters newest family “Angara” Roskosmos not specified. But noted that the prospects for the development of manned transport complex Roskosmos will be ready to discuss after the approval of the concept in the government and the inclusion of this project in the Federal Space Program for 2015-2025 years.
The press service of the Russian Space Agency BFM.ru reported that when deciding on the construction of the “Eastern” the following objectives: ensuring independent access to space from Russia across the full spectrum of space missions; guarantee the conservation of the domestic space infrastructure in case of emergencies; load redistribution spacecraft launch from Baikonur existing, Plesetsk, clear. By the way, today Russia pays Kazakhstan for rent cosmodrome “Baikonur” 115 million dollars a year.
In the Russian Space Agency said that after putting all of the facilities “East” will be able to provide a full range of services for all types of space launches spacecraft, space modules, manned space vehicles and cargo ships, space stations. Today, the construction of the cosmodrome the Federal Agency “Spetsstroy Russia.” Commissioning of the first phase is scheduled for the end of 2015, noted in the department, without specifying information about the delay.
We talked to a member of the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics Tsiolkovsky Andrew, son of John of Will implement its plans at the cosmodrome “East” and when the first shuttle boat with tourists fly into orbit.
The construction of the “East.” What do you think about this project? How is it different from “Baikonur»?
Now, unfortunately, we hear from the Baikonur launch will definitely gorgeous missiles that proved this in the past half century, but also by Sergei Korolev and his team in the 60s – it is surprising. It is surprising and the city that is built there. Construction was entrusted to Roskosmos, and he is interested in the development of the budget, so the main funds were not in the high-tech development in the Far East and even in the space industry, and in concrete, construction sites and so on. I understand the situation that has developed now. But I still hope that everyone realizes that we do not build another Russian spaceport, and develop the Far East, where they will live young professionals who will develop a variety of high-tech, not just space. This should become an international spaceport, a point of attraction not only for Russia but also for all countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
If you look at the situation soberly, plans to develop the region, which envisaged – is whether or not we see?
, son of John Andrew : I am an optimist and here I am absolutely subjective, because I was with a group of his friends argued that the spaceport, so I think that – to paraphrase Bulgakov – right thoughts do not burn. Those, in my opinion, absolutely correct ideas that were laid out in the proposal for the president to launch site has been opened, still prevail, because they are the only correct ones. Of course, this will not be easy, as any fighting inertia ossified structures with people. Will not be easy, but these thoughts, these proposals continue to punch as actively as it did in 2007.
What can you say about the new manned transport spacecraft?
, son of John Andrew : Projects lot. A group of enthusiasts in various companies developing them. I’m not going to even choose from them, analyze. It is clear that the new ships should be developed, at least to the designers have honed their skills, and young people who come to the space industry, it was interesting, because very few people interested to continue to operate or modify the product, which 50-60 years, despite the All its effectiveness, genius, covered with glory and myths. Now came another phase of space exploration, and the technologies that have been the main drivers and have been industry development – rocket science, thermodynamics, control systems, ballistics, which were the main scientific and technical direction in the 50-60s, now the drivers are not industry and it is unlikely you can achieve some success. Space – is a complex industry, it brings together a lot. Even to fly and live on the Moon, on Mars, in fact, come to the fore very different technologies: the technologies that are truly the most advanced, most modern, in which both the state and business can earn big profits and the state – to ensure technological leadership of the country. This technology, robot-related, biogenic technology, technology related to the processing of waste, the same 3D-printing. These technologies are the most advanced, they will be the key to a new phase of space exploration. If the space program will remain in the framework of the technologies that have been created in 50-60 years, it will become just not interesting – neither youth nor the state.
A few years ago in the United States built a spaceport with the calculation, that there will fly spaceships in order to simply fly into space on a tour, look at the stars …
, son of John Andrew : Of course, I heard about it. Virgin Galactic – a very interesting project, the designer of the ship Burt Rutan – a man of genius. Unfortunately, all of the broken prose market because it is one thing – this is a brilliant design that really allowed to bring with small aerospace means a ship above the limits of the atmosphere, but quite another matter when you go to the business. In this case, to business people to launch above the limits of the atmosphere, so that they’re able to spend a few minutes of weightlessness and see the stars. When you talk about the business, you are covered by very strict laws about the safety of consumers. Are flying professional astronauts who know what they are going to prepare for this for a long time and who fly on specially designed tools that ensure their salvation and safety at various parts of the flight, that really realized that the “Soyuz”. At each stage of the flight there are special techniques that ensure the safety of a small but professional crew. Here we see a system that is designed to run untrained people, and in which, unfortunately, as the recent accident of Virgin, not even the most basic means of escape for crew members even, let alone tourists. Therefore, the prospects for this project, I now appreciate how pessimistic, it is related to the fact that the concept can not be implemented mass tourism business – extremely high risk. How to ensure the reduction of these risks? Estimated Virgin Galactic, it is necessary to improve the reliability of its aerospace means not even an order of magnitude, and three orders of magnitude to reach the safety requirements for the tourism industry. Had offers from Virgin to change US law precisely for such innovative space projects and reduce the requirements for the safety of people. But I think that before this position seemed utopian, but now, after the accident, which occurred a few months ago, I think it is almost impossible. This project I appreciate, of course, as a genius in terms of technology, but genius is not enough to reach the mass market.
The head of Virgin Galactic confident that the project will not be closed, despite the collapse of space tourism spacecraft SpaceShip Two in November 2014. Indeed, the development goes, and in the future space tourism could become a reality?
Andrew, son of John : Of course, yes, but I think the concept will have to be reversed. If we talk about tourism, a mass unprofessional access to space, it is necessary to think about security, and in all areas of flight – from the moment of landing people in space system until they landed. This is a whole set of complex technical solutions, which is probably more difficult to own launch vehicles. I say this professionally, because I was doing at the time of such systems for the Soviet system. These were on the “Shuttle”, the same technical solutions are provided on a set of “Soyuz” rocket and “Union”. Such solutions are, and we know that in the Soviet space program, they have repeatedly allowed to save the crew. We know how dangerous it is, because the two “Space Shuttle” were killed in different situations. In the transition to mass tourism it is clear that it is coming to the fore, and as in the current level of technology to solve, I do not know. Probably, sooner or later, people will decide this, but on a different level of technology.
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